INTRODUCTION. S curiofity feems to be the predominant paffion with the generality of readers, in this age; and as many people peruse a new book with as much fatisfaction as a good book; mere novelty of drefs may perhaps induce readers of that defcription to peruse the following Reveries; which, if they do not afford them much inftruction, may at leaft amuse them, as they have done the writer, in deafness and folitude. As many people likewife will read a short essay, who would be difmayed at the fight of a long differtation or a political pamphlet; these Reveries have alfo brevity to recommend them. And though the fubjects have been treated by infinitely better hands, yet there are readers, who will comprehend a remark fet in a familiar light, who would be puzzled by a more abftruse, though perhaps a more just train of reafoning. The author wishes indeed to have these effays confidered in a moral, or in a mere literary, rather than in a political light. And if he has ventured too boldly (in the two first of them) to utter his opinion on what he reads in his "weekly Chronicle," he certainly will not enter into a controversy with any man living. He profeffes himself contented indeed with the prefent imperfect state of human affairs; but wishes well to those who, from difinterested, patriotic motives, are willing to improve them. However, though he flatters himself that he is poffeffed of as much candour and philanthropy as most men, and would no more quarrel with any one for thinking differently from him in religion or politics, than he would for his preferring white wine to red; yet, as a good citizen, he cannot but condemn those turbulent fpirits who, without any regard to the peace of the community or the prefent profperous ftate of the kingdom, fo induftriously diffeminate their Utopian systems of government, and endeavour to make their countrymen dissatisfied with with a conftitution, which, if it does not rife up to their standard of perfection, has confeffedly been long the envy and admiration, not only of France itself, but of every nation in Europe.* If any one could produce a plan of government, to which five hundred different persons would not make five hundred objections, I would vote for having it substituted in the place of our own. But who can liften with patience to complaints of tyranny and defpotifm, in this country, where no Ariftocrate, nor the King himself, can take a duck or a goose from the meanest subject; or commit him to the roundhouse, but in conformity to the laws of the land? Or who does not ficken at this eternal cant about "civil and religious liberty," in an age when, with unparalleled indecency and outrage, people abuse, with impunity, the legislative and executive powers, King, Lords and Commons? And where, not only religious fects of every kind, B 2 * See De Lolme (a citizen of Geneva) his "Conftitution of "England." |